Million Dalasis Fraud Allegation Follows Neneh Macdouall Gaye’s Sacking

By Njie Khakatarr in Banjul & Ebrima G. Sankareh, Raleigh, NC, USA

Barely three hours after our bombshell on the sacking of three Cabinet Ministers by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh than news of damning allegations began to trickle in. While reasons for the high profile sacking of Jammeh’s spokesperson and Secretary of State for Information, Communication and Technology Nenneh Macdoul-Gaye remain sketchy; our most credible and phenomenally competent sources at the President’s office alleged that her sacking centers on a One Million Dalasi (D1, 000, 000) phone card fraud at The Gambia Cellular Company  (Gamcel), the country's host for cellular companies. Says Kissy Kissy Mansa, for the past three weeks the Big Man has been complaining of most trusted lieutenants betraying him all the time, “they steal and steal and steal like bastards” the Big Man is quoted as having lamented to his followers. Sources close to the State Department for Information Communication & Technology alleged, that Nenneh had millions of scratch phone cards reportedly printed in Nigeria on her behalf. She allegedly gave the Scratch Cards to a private dealer for her own personal business.

According to Kissy, President Jammeh had also proposed the banning of Internet facilities in The Gambia to curb what he dreads as growing security threats and false reports about his autocratic regime. Says Kissy; the meeting last week is a squeal to two meetings one held as early as December 2006 when Mohammed Jah the proprietor of Quantum Associates was invited. In all three meetings, says Kissy, President Jammeh has consistently opposed the growing power of the Internet in the mini-West African state and the potential political reverberations that it portends. In the latest twist to close the Internet in the country, reveals Kissy, efforts are underfoot to solicit the support of local religious leaders especially, some Imams who are equally disdainful of the Internet’s alleged invasion of privacy. Nenneh Macdouall Gaye took over the Information Ministry in 2005 following her active role in effectively dismantling The Gambia Student Union (GAMSU) and introducing a lackluster political student union; the so-called National Patriotic Student Association. She replaced Dr. Amadou Scattered Janneh at a time when the issue of the Media Commission was on the spotlight. While we at The Echo cannot celebrate the political demise of a sister, most people have considered Nenneh as an obstacle to free flow of information, a vibrant independent press and freedom of expression in general as evidenced by the celebratory mood of most Gambian journalists, sympathizers and human rights defenders, among others. Mrs. Fatim Badjie 26, Senior Marketing Manager at the new established Cellular Company, Comium takes over with immediate effect. It remains to be seen if she too will measure up to expectations or match her predecessor’s charismatic appearances and her unbridled disposition to support Yahya Jammeh even when she knew damn well that The Gambian leader was merely prevaricating. There is however, evidence aplenty, that Badjie may be worse if she maintains the firm posture she took while at Comium, particularly with the private press and the international community. Prior to this new position, she was considered a non-press friendly figure, particularly, during her time as the Marketing Manager at Comium.

In a related development, sources also revealed that Ms. Angela Colley’s ephemeral elevation as Tourism Minister was largely attributable to what Yahya Jammeh calls blatant lies to bury the truth. Recently, says Kissy, President Jammeh had an unpleasant experience when he visited the Tourism Development Area where he received a litany of complaints that the turnout of tourists (the second largest employer in the ailing economy) is the lowest in The Gambia’s history. This according to Kissy, was contrary to reports he received from the Ministry and the Minister that there was a bumper tourist season. Gambians saw Jammeh on national television screens expressing disappointment over the misinformation from a Minister he appointed based on trust and confidence.

In a related twist, there is growing resentment over a fuel shortage that began on Monday, the third time in 2008 and the situation is progressively worsening especially, at a time when both Muslims and Christians prepare for the celebrations of "Yaumul Assura" locally called Gamo (the birth day of the Prophet Muhammed) and Good Friday respectively.

Vehicular activity has lessened since Monday and in some places, long queues of vehicles at the few fuel stations with motorists and locals spending hours in pain only to end up going home without gas. The situation has resulted to the abandoning of several commercial as well as private vehicles in the capital, Banjul and its suburbs. Transportation in the Greater Banjul areas has become a major problem, forcing some people with the Hobson’s choice of either reporting to work late or just staying home. Drivers are frustrated. "We are really disturbed with this painful experience. Government should really intervene to safe us from the menace” said one driver. A senior government officer at the office of the President argues that the best way to fix this fuel shortage is to reduce the President’s own $12million motorcade. “President Jammeh consumes more gas than the entire population, with his impressive queues of big American cars,” the officer revealed.All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this article or any other article or image, or portions thereof, in any form or context without the expressed permission of The Gambia Echo Newspaper.